GEAR UP NEWSLETTER American Samoa Community College September 2011 Issue 8 GEAR UP & Boys and Girls Club Summer Academy

Troy Polamalu “Be humble. Be great. And be a good ambassador for GEAR UP Newsletter American Samoa, no matter where you go”, advised Troy Polamalu of the . During his remarks Mr. Polamalu urged the young audi- ence to always remember where they come from and to never forget that they Special points of interest: represent their country and their culture. He reminded kids about the opportu-  Coach Jones and Troy nities that are available to them, if they choose the right path and stay in Polamalu speaks to Summer school. Troy was grateful to visit American Samoa and give a little of what he Academy has learned as a professional athlete to the young students of the territory.  First Lady Tulafono Presents at NCCEP GEARUP Annual Confer- ence June Jones During his keynote speech to BGCAS/GUAS youth participants, Southern Methodist University Head Coach June Jones emphasized four impor-  Island NFL Athletes visit Sum- mer Academy tant rules that were taught to him as a young child: 1) Always tell the truth, 2) Never steal, 3) Do not cheat and 4) Choose good friends. He stressed that he  GUAS provides Professional Development Sessions has lived by these rules and teaches them to all his student athletes. “Applying  Thank you! Summer Academy these rules in your life will help you build good character. Good character, pow- Supporters ered by the desire to succeed in school, will help you achieve anything in life,  NVTHS Sandra Purcell selected including playing in the NFL” said Coach Jones. Jones was a former Quarterback to the NCCEP GEARUP YLS for the and was nationally named Coach Of The Year 1999 and  GUAS Student Incentive Pro- three time Regional Coach Of The Year while at the University of Hawaii. gram First Lady Mary Ann Tulafono presents at the NCCEP GEAR UP Conference First Lady Mary Ann Tulafono and Director Tupua Roy Fua led a delegation representing American Samoa to the 2011 National GEAR UP Conference hosted by the National Council on Community and Educational Partnerships (NCCEP) GEAR UP Programs in San Francisco, California July 2011. American Samoa’s GEAR UP pro- gram was invited to provide a presentation featuring its partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of American Samoa (BGCAS) and how it will help GEAR UP sustain its programs and services in the com- munity. Entering its final year of implementation, GEAR UP has documented over five years of lessons learned in working with students and teachers to improve academic achievement and better prepare students for college enrollment. The presentation highlighted the prevention science outlining risks and protective factors that increase the likeli- hood of underage drinking, teenage pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, school dropout and violence in any community. Mrs. Tulafono underscored the high rates of academic failure beginning in late elementary school and lack of commit- ment to school as the impetus for the partnership between the TAITAITAMA, BGCAS and the American Samoa Com- munity College. As a benefit to the BGCAS, the GEAR UP project provides instructional and technical staff to provide mentor training, tutoring, teaching strategies and professional development for all staff working directly with youth. Addition- ally, GEAR UP provides access to educational technology currently available to GEAR UP cohort schools as well as using the MarkBook electronic grade book to track student performance in real time. Page 2 GEAR UP NEWSLETTER Island NFL Athletes visits BGCAS & GUAS Academy

Seiuli Jesse Sapolu attended Farrington High School and the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. He signed with the San Francisco 49ers on July 10, 1983. Sapolu is one of six 49ers to own four Championship Rings (1984, 1988, 1989, and 1994). He earned Pro Bowl honors in 1993 and 1994. Sapolu retired in 1997 and is currently an Offensive Line Coach for the Edison High School Chargers in Huntington Beach, CA.

Vincent Manuwai was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and attended Farrington High School. Manuwai’s honors include: All-America first-team choice by News as a senior, All-WAC first-team, received the Warrior Club Award (team’s best player). Manuwai was recruited by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2003 and was placed on the injured reserve after suffering an ACL & MCL injury in 2009. Manuwai intends to be back on the field this year.

Maa Tanuvasa was born in American Samoa. He played college football for the University of Hawaii helping them win the 1992 Western Athletic Conference Championship. He played nine years in the , winning two Super Bowl championships as a main component of the Denver Bronco’s.

Domata Peko while attending Samoana High School Peko played on both defensive and offensive line. Peko was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2006 NFL Draft. The Bengals recently signed Peko to a five-year contract extension.

Taitusi “Deuce” Lutui was born in Ha’apai, Tonga and grew up in Mesa, AZ. He was named Super Prep All-Far-West, Prep Star All-West, All-State, All-Region and All -Conference as a two-way lineman when attending Mesa High School. He was an All- American guard when playing for the USC Trojans. Lutui was selected in the second round (41st overall) of the 2006 NFL draft by the . In 2009, he started 16 games as the Cardinals once again became NFC West champions with a 10- 6 record.

Reagan Mauia was born in American Samoa. He is an fullback for the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He also played for the Cincinnati Bengals. He was an All- League and All-Area selection when attending Tokay High School in Lodi, CA. Mauia also played RB and along the defensive line when playing for the University of Hawaii. September 2011 Issue 8 Page 3 GUAS Offers Professional A BIG THANK YOU to our Development Sessions Summer Academy Supporters

The 2011 GUAS/BGCAS Summer Academy was a great success. Over 350 students ages 10-18 from the GEAR UP cohort and BGCAS thoroughly enjoyed the academic program, sports activities & motivational talks from Head CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT, LESSON PLANNING Coach June Jones & Sons of Samoa who have succeeded in The Session explores effective ways of classroom the NFL. This event would not have been possible without management and lesson planning as well as learning your commitment & support for the youth of American effective teaching strategies to appropriate student behavior. Samoa. Faafetai, Faafetai Tele Lava.

MARKBOOK CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: Governor Togiola T.A. Tulafono The MarkBook software program replaces the grade book in First Lady Mary A.T. Tulafono many modern classrooms. MarkBook works for teachers, TAITAITAMA Executive Board students, administrators and parents to maximize BGCAS Board of Directors effectiveness in necessary classroom management areas such Dr. Seth Galea’i, ASCC as accountability, data management, mark calculations and Director Leilua Stevenson, DHSS data analysis. Director Samana Ve’ave’a, DPR

Director Elizabeth Ponausuia, DOH IMPROVING STUDY SKILLS: This training gives participants strategies to teach students Director Jacinta Galea’i, DOE skills to help them become independent and responsible Director Ufagafa Tulafono, DMWR learners. Specific skill sets that are targeted in the training Dean Hudson, Fletcher Construction are: a). how to be better organized, 2). how to improve SMU Head Coach June Jones listening skills, c). specific note taking techniques, d). June Jones Goodwill Mission effective study practices, and e). effective test taking Mr. & Mrs. Loyd and The Loyd Charitable Foundation exercises. EMS Chief Fuapopo Avegalio SODEXO READING AND WRITING TEST SECTIONS: Secretary Kenneth Tupua, ASNOC Teachers are introduced to four lessons for reading that can FIFA Football Federation Am. Samoa be used as stepping stones in building skills for the SAT Islandwide Volleyball Association writing tests. Participants will review two reading lessons to Launiusaelua Softball Association build skills for the SAT critical reading tests. Highlights of AS Basketball Association the training will be taking SAT simulations in order to get a ASCC Security feel for what students experience when they actually sit the KVZK TV Crew SAT exam. BGCAS Coordinators

UNDERSTANDING FINANCIAL AID: GEAR UP Staff and This training gives school counselors, students and parents the many, many volunteers who worked tirelessly to make an overview of financial aid and scholarships available as this event a success. the GUAS cohort completes high school and graduates. The introduction of the training is focused on the economic value of a college education and post secondary options that promote their attending ASCC right after high school. It will emphasize the importance of scoring high on the SAT to qualify for scholarships and the FAFSA.

GUAS Student Incentive Program

This 2011-2012 school year the GEAR UP American Samoa Program will offer our students a Student Incentive GEARUP Program and activities that will help better prepare students American Samoa for college as well as letting students earn Incentives (gift American Samoa certificates). The Student Incentive Program is designed to Community College help them keep busy with their studies and have fun while Director Tupua Roy Fua doing it.

P.O. Box 2609 All Program Activities must be verified with the Cohort Pago Pago, Am. Samoa School Coordinator and the ASCC GEAR UP Director. 684, 699-9166 Office 684, 699-9165 Fax Program Activities Points [email protected] Homework Attendance, 50%, 70%, 90% 2, 3, 4 pts www.gearup.as Student College Knowledge Survey 2 pts Parent College Knowledge Survey 2 pts NVTHS Sandra Purcell Selected as Reading Book, Essay’s (per book/essay) 2 pts per NCCEP YLS Student College Placement Exam 3 pts Take the SAT 3 pts The National Council for Community and Educational Financial Aid Registration 4 pts per College Night Attendance 2 pts Partnerships (NCCEP) Annual Conference selected students Scholarship Applications 2 pts per from among hundreds of applicants nationwide to ASVAB Pre-Session (4 week session) 5 pts participate in the NCCEP Youth Leadership Summit. Sandra Pre-SAT English (4 week session) 5 pts Purcell, 16, a senior at Nu'uuli Vocational Technical High Pre-SAT Math (4 week session) 5 pts School, joined her peers from across the United States at the Summit, which took place in San Francisco from July 17th - For every five points earned students will receive a gift 20th. certificate for: a movie ticket, Carl’s Jr., McDonald, Blue- Sandra, the daughter of Mele Lusinita Purcell and Sky or ASTAC phone card. Mino Gaya Purcell, has participated in GUAS since the program's inception in 2006. She has earned an impressive list of achievement awards in academics and sports from GUAS Points will be counted as an eligibility both Tafuna Elementary School and Nu'uuli Vocational Technical High School. criteria towards the GUAS Scholarship.

While Sandra participated in the Youth Summit, Director Tupua and the GUAS staff collaborated with their GEAR UP AMERICAN SAMOA nationwide GEAR UP coutnerparts and the Boys & Girls Clubs Scholarship Criteria of American Samoa to present at the national conference. In an effort to include student perspectives and the Must be a GEAR UP student opinions of young people, the NCCEP created national Must have a 3.3 or better GPA opportunities for youth to participate in the NCCEP/GEAR UP Must submit a High School Transcript Annual Conference. More than 200 GEAR UP high school Must earn 1000 or more on the SAT exam students have participated in the Youth Leadership Summit Must have earned minimum of 20 GUAS Package Points Must have excellent student attendance and school behavior since 2003. The NCCEP has been partnering with GEAR UP for Must submit College Intent Essay Excellence to present the Summit since 2005. Blending (no less than 300 words typed) leadership development with the experience of participating Must show improvement with the Pre-CPE and Post CPE in a professional conference, the Summit teaches Test Results participants how to be advocates for their schools and Must submit 3 Letters of Recommendation communities, empowering them to become the voice for (from Teachers, Counselors or Principals) their peers.